An Inventory of Supreme Court's Annotated Copies of
Blueprints and Drawings of Buildings in the Capitol Complex at the Texas State
Archives,
1956-1991,
bulk 1988-1990

Supreme Court's annotated
copies of blueprints and drawings of buildings in the Capitol
Complex

Dates:

1956-1991

Dates:

bulk 1988-1990

Abstract:

The Texas Supreme
Court consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices and serves as
the highest civil court in the state. It has final appellate jurisdiction in
most civil and juvenile cases. The files consist of architectural blueprints
and drawings and document the construction of the Texas Supreme Court and
Attorney General buildings in the Capitol Complex, dating from 1956 to 1991,
the bulk dating 1988-1990. They include some construction blueprints from 1956
for the Supreme Court building and drawings for subsequent renovations to that
building. The majority of the drawings date from 1988 to 1990 and include the
renovation of the Tom Clark building and the construction of the Price Daniel,
Sr. building for the Attorney General. Other drawings include a 1986 site plan
for the Capitol Complex and 1990 plans for the Capitol Extension, a project
managed by the State Preservation Board.

The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and eight associate
justices, elected to six-year overlapping terms. As the highest civil court in
the state it has final appellate jurisdiction in most civil and juvenile cases.
It also has the authority to conduct proceedings for the removal or involuntary
retirement of state judges. The court has many administrative duties as well,
including the promulgation of several rules, such as the civil and appellate
procedures for the Texas judicial system, and the procedural rules for the
Commission on Judicial Conduct; equalizing the dockets among the Courts of
Civil Appeals; supervising State Bar operations; and promulgating the rules and
regulations for the discipline, supervision, and disbarment of lawyers. The
court also has supervisory and administrative control over the judicial
branch.

The General Services Commission's responsibilities included providing
an effective purchasing system for state agencies; providing maintenance,
repair, and security services to the Capitol Complex; and acquiring real
property in the Capitol Complex and constructing state office buildings. The
commission acquires all supplies, materials, services, and equipment for all
state agencies, with a few exceptions.

The files consist of architectural blueprints and drawings and
document the construction of the Texas Supreme Court and Attorney General
buildings in the Capitol Complex, dating from 1956 to 1991, the bulk dating
1988-1990. They include some construction blueprints from 1956 for the Supreme
Court building and drawings for subsequent renovations to that building. The
majority of the drawings date from 1988 to 1990 and include the renovation of
the Tom Clark building and the construction of the Price Daniel, Sr. building
for the Attorney General. Other drawings include a 1986 site plan for the
Capitol Complex and 1990 plans for the Capitol Extension, a project managed by
the State Preservation Board. Annotations are present on several of the
drawings, presumably made by staff at the Supreme Court.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily
reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to
provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are arranged as received by the agency, roughly by
project and architect.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and
may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received
by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The
researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17
U.S.C.).

These blueprints and drawings were in the possession of William L.
Willis, the Administrator for the Supreme Court. These copies were given to him
by the General Services Commission for the Court's use during the buildings'
renovations. These records were transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the
Texas Supreme Court on April 22, 1993.